Have you ever thought about just how clean your kitchen sponge really is? You use it to wipe away all kinds of food particles, grease, dirt, and build-up. It gets bits of egg and cheese caught in the fibres of the scrubber. It picks up all the things left on your countertop after a messy meal. Then it spends all day and night sitting in a damp dish sponge holder.
It’s kind of gross, right?
As it turns out, your typical disposable kitchen sponge is crawling with microbial bacteria. Most of it’s harmless but more dangerous bacteria like salmonella and E.coli have been studied in the kitchen environment, and your sponge is a potential site of cross-contamination.
Silicone sponges are the hot new kitchen product for anyone who wants to change the way they do dishes. They’re cleaner, they’re more eco-friendly, and the best silicone sponges are just as good at removing dirt and grime.
What is a silicone sponge? Unlike your standard disposable sponge, it’s non-porous. It doesn’t absorb, so it doesn’t soak up bacteria and foster its growth. Silicone bristles do the work of scouring and scrubbing. You can clean them in the dishwasher much more effectively to combat mold growth and hold onto them for longer.
But if you’re not used to using them, where do you even start? We’ve put together the best silicone sponge reviews of 2024 to help you find the right match for your kitchen.
Silicone sponges are the perfect solution if you’re sick of constantly tossing out sponges and worried about the bacteria that grows on them. Unlike disposables, you can actually clean silicone sponges effectively. Cut down on waste and wash your dishes with confidence, knowing you aren’t just spreading bacteria around.
Top 7 Best Silicone Sponges
| Product Image | Product Name | Where to Use | Versatility | 5-Star Rating | Latest Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Peachy Clean Silicone Scrubber | Kitchen | Great for Cleaning Dishes, Non-Stick | 4.5 | View Price | |
 | STK Heavy Duty Silicone Scrubber Sponges | Kitchen | Great for Cleaning Dishes | 4 | View Price | |
 | cFone SS-001 Scrubber | Kitchen | Scrub Brush, Heat-insulated Mat, Pet Hair Remover | 4 | View Price | |
 | Asiopphire Double Sided Silicone Scrubbing Sponges | Entire Household | Square Dish Washing Sponge + Oval Household Sponge | 4 | View Price | |
 | Handy Gourmet Silicone Sponges | Kitchen, Bathroom | Multipurpose Cleaning | 4 | View Price | |
 | Lubrima Silicone Sponge Dish Sponge | Kitchen, Bathroom, Car | Multipurpose Cleaning, Makeup Brush Cleaning | 3.5 | View Price | |
 | Emoly Silicone Sponge | Kitchen | Dish Scrubber, Vegetable Scrubber | 3.5 | View Price |
The Top 7 Best Silicone Dish Sponges
Key Features:
- 100% resistant to mold and mildew
- No smells
- Non-scratching
Review: The Peachy Clean Silicone Scrubber was a revelation when it came time to do the dishes. The reason this is our top pick for best silicone dish sponge because it’s the perfect replacement for your traditional dish sponge without the smells.
It’s great for getting into hard-to-reach places, won’t scratch up your pans, and best of all, you know you’re working with a clean sponge without all the bacteria that usually grows in your go-to scrubber.
Standout Features: The Peachy Clean Silicone Scrubber is guaranteed to stay fresh for a full 90 days. If you’re sick of gross odors in your sponge, there’s finally an answer. If you find it doesn’t deliver to the standard you expected, it’s a scrubber under warranty.
Pros
- Prevents the growth of bacteria
- Perfect replacement for a dish sponge
- 90-Day guarantee
Cons
- Low absorbency, so it uses a lot of soap
Key Features:
- Strong scrubbing
- Less abrasive than fiber sponges
- Zero smell technology
Review: Another strong contender is the STK Heavy Duty Silicone Scrubber sponge. It works great on those tougher jobs like scrubbing the bottoms of pots and pans. It’s great for getting at stuck-on dirt, but it’s still gentle enough for more delicate operations.
Not only does it cut down on weird odors, but it also makes cleaning quicker and easier.
Standout Features: This silicone dish sponge uses larger porous surfaces to reduce the bacteria-caused odors that get trapped in a standard sponge. It also comes in a larger pack than the Peachy Clean Scrubber, and it’s more economical on a per-sponge basis.
Pros
- 100% odor-free thanks to larger porous surfaces
- Works on tough cleaning jobs but less abrasive than traditional sponges
- Cleans faster and more thoroughly
Cons
- Only available in packs of 10
Key Features:
- Heatproof silicone
- Multi-purpose
- High-strength and won’t lose shape
Review: If you want more than just a silicone dish sponge, the cFone SS-001 Scrubber offers an extra layer of versatility you won’t find in some of the other products available. It has hundreds of soft bristles that are great for removing food from enamel and non-stick pans, so it scores well for cleaning.
But it’s also proofed against high heat, so it doubles as a heat-insulated mat or coaster. You can safely handle hot plates or bowls without burning your hands.
This one is extremely useful in the kitchen. It’s more than just a sponge!
Standout Features: High heatproofing and the bristle design make this scrubber useful for more than just pots and pans.
Pros
- Dense soft bristle design for scrubbing
- Resistant to high temperatures, suitable as a heat coaster
- High strength
Cons
- You need to air out the silicone after opening
Key Features:
- More efficient soap use
- High-grade silicone bristles
- 1 side for washing and degreasing, 1 side for scrubbing
Review: If you’ve tried silicone sponges before and wound up disappointed with the results, the Asiopphire Double-Sided Silicone Scrubbing Sponge solves a lot of the problems people tend to complain about in silicone dish sponge reviews.
The Asiopphire has two sides: one with a softer texture designed for washing and degreasing plates and pans, the other with shorter, pointed bristles that make scrubbing easier.
A pack also features two oval sponges with longer bristles that are made for housecleaning.
These BPA-free sponges are reusable and dishwasher-safe. It’s an eco-friendly, sustainable alternative to traditional sponges.
Standout Features: What really makes the difference with this one is how it holds onto soap. One of the biggest complaints in silicone dish sponge reviews we’ve seen is that they don’t hold onto soap at all, and you have to keep adding it if you’re doing the dishes. It works if you’re just scraping off food before putting them in the dishwasher, but not if you’re doing everything in the sink. This sponge changes all that. It works efficiently with your soap and helps you use less of it to clean up.
Pros
- Efficient use of soap and dish detergent
- Two types of sponge for washing dishes and general household cleaning
- Two-sided with bristle designs for different tasks
Cons
- Pack only comes with two sponges meant for dishwashing
Key Features:
- Color system prevents cross-contamination
- Durable silicone material
Review: These silicone sponges from Handy Gourmet are great for cleaning and preparing food. The color system means you can avoid cross-contamination, with one dedicated for vegetable boards and dishes and dedicated colors for poultry, meat, and fish. If you’re concerned about cross-contamination, this is a simple but effective solution.
You can also divide the sponges up by area or purpose: dishes, kitchen countertop, bathroom, etc. It’s great for getting kids to remember and not use the wrong cleaning product.
Standout Features: Fast-drying silicone material keeps it odor-resistant, but the color system is the real standout.
Pros
- Color-coded system for easy organization
- Three times more durable than standard fabric sponges
Cons
- High price point for 4 sponges
Key Features:
- Non-porous and 100% non-stick
- Best silicone sponge for makeup cleaning
- Speedy drying
Review: The Lubrima Silicone Sponge is easy to clean and works best as a kitchen dish scrubber. They work great if you’re scrubbing glass tops, the kitchen counter, coffee pots, and other spaces where you need flexibility, but you may need to use a porous sponge in conjunction to absorb the water left behind. They rinse clean and dry quickly, keeping them fresh for longer.
Where this one excels is uses outside the kitchen. This was the best silicone sponge for cleaning makeup brushes. You only need a little bit of cleaning product with this to get accumulated oils and cosmetics out of your brushes, extending their life and reducing bacteria you’re inadvertently applying to your face.
Standout Features: The bristles on this silicone sponge are soft and thick, which makes the cleaning process quick and easy. It’s heat-resistant to 500°F to protect your hands and tables from getting burned and dries quickly.
But where the Lubrima Silicone Sponge shines isn’t in the kitchen at all. Take this one to your makeup brushes, and you’ll have them clean in no time.
Pros
- Perfect for cleaning makeup brushes
- Multipurpose cleaning from vegetables to car, bathrooms, outdoors, and camping
Cons
- Smaller size makes it harder to grip dishes in the sink
Key Features:
- Soft and scratch-free
- Clean in the dishwasher
- Scrub plates, dishes, pots, pans, vegetables, fruit
- Use it on makeup brushes, for pet grooming, or as a circulation aid
Review: The Emoly Silicone Sponge works great at cleaning off stuck-on food, and all it takes is a quick rinse to get it clean again. It’s durable, safe, and like all the best silicone sponges, it cuts down on the waste created by constantly throwing out traditional sponges.
Standout Features: You can use the Emoly Silicone Sponge on all of your kitchen tools, including pots, pans, brushes, and non-scratch surfaces.
Pros
- Scratch-free bristles for non-scratch surfaces
- Multipurpose cleaning including makeup brushes, vegetables, dishes, pots, and pans
Cons
- They struggle with heavily soiled dishes, like grit at the bottom of a pot
What You Need to Know Before You Buy a Silicone Sponge?
As you dive into your spring cleaning routine, check out a fresh home guide for tips on all kinds of cleaning products for different areas of your home. In addition to these silicone dish sponge reviews, we also have tips on common carpet cleaning methods and tips for buying a quality wet vacuum cleaner. But when it comes to your kitchen sponge, we have all the answers you need right here.
Is It Better to Use a Sponge or Dish Cloth?
How Long Do Silicone Scrubbers Last?
Do Silicone Sponges Smell?
Can You Use a Silicone Sponge on Your Body?
Can You Use a Silicone Sponge on Makeup Brushes?
Silicone sponges are useful for cleaning your makeup brushes. Makeup brushes offer plenty of opportunities for bacteria, pathogens, and mold. That can lead to skin breakouts and even infections. Silicone sponges are great for getting all the accumulated oils and skin cells out of your brushes.
Last Thoughts on Silicone Sponge Reviews
If you’re sick and tired of gross smells wafting off your dish sponge, it’s time to make the switch to silicone. They’re cleaner, last longer, cut down on waste, and provide a hostile environment to bacteria. Check out the best silicone sponge reviews for a cleaner kitchen!
References
[1] 9 Places Germs Are Lurking in Your Kitchen (Cleveland Clinic)
[2] The Dangers of Dirty Sponges and Dish Cloths (Center for Science in the Public Interest)
[3] Silicon or Silicone: What’s the Difference? (Live Science)
[4] How to Get Smells Out of Silicone Kitchenware (Wirecutter – The New York Times)
[5] What Conditions Encourage Bacteria to Grow? (Iowa State University)
